The Differences between Therapeutic and Traditional Boarding Schools
When it comes to a high school education, it's imperative to ensure you're paying for the academic and emotional support that your adolescent needs. Today's adolescents are filled with anxiety, depression, and a spectrum of other mental health issues. So, while as parents you are thinking about their academic future, you must also focus on their mental health needs. In deciding on where your child should be attending school, there are a few things you'll want to consider.
First, it's important to understand the types of schools you can be comparing. The first category of school is Therapeutic Boarding Schools, previously referred to as Emotional Growth Schools. The second type of school option is a Traditional Boarding School. When researching the type of school for your adolescent, the distinction between the two is extremely important to note.
Believe it or not, this title Therapeutic Boarding School is on the decline. This doesn't mean that these types of schools don't exist. The majority of adolescents who find themselves at a Therapeutic Boarding School would have previously attended a wilderness therapy program. That's not the case for every adolescent, yet a high percentage follow this track. What is distinctly different about this type of school option is that it includes weekly individual, group, and family therapy sessions. This is paramount to the academic success of an adolescent who is struggling with mental health, substance abuse, or family trauma.
If this is the type of school placement you are considering, you may want to hire a Therapeutic Consultant to help you with recommendations. Programs such as New Summit Academy or Greenbrier Academy are just two examples of therapeutic boarding schools that can offer the therapeutic supports for young people while simultaneously providing a college-prep education. The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) or All Kinds of Therapy are great resources in searching for Therapeutic Boarding Schools.
If your adolescent does not need an intervention like wilderness therapy, the second type of school you can explore is a Traditional Boarding School. If you are leaning this direction, you may want to hire an Education Consultant. These individuals focus on the academic needs of your child and will make recommendations based on schools they have visited. They help you narrow down the options and know the best schools for the specific needs of your adolescent (i.e. learning disabilities). An important distinction is that a Traditional Boarding School may not offer the Mental Health Staff or Direct Care staff to supervise an adolescent with significant mental health or substance abuse concerns. Most Traditional Boarding Schools do not have a Psychiatrist or Therapist on staff. They will, however, have School Counselors and/or College Counseling teams to support the academic, career, and emotional needs of your adolescent. When searching for Traditional Boarding Schools you can refer to The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) or National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
Some families are determined to do the research without hiring a professional. If that is what you are doing, here is a Parent's Guide to helping you with the process. In addition, here are some key questions to consider when speaking with potential schools:
What accreditation does your school have? Who is it through? Where will the diploma come from?
What interscholastic sports are available?
What is the total enrollment at the school?
Where do students typically graduate to?
What is the typical length of stay for students?
What does the family involvement look like?
In the end, the most knowledgeable resource about the differences in schools and the best type of fit will be a Therapeutic or Educational Consultant. In addition to the questions listed above, these individuals can provide exhaustive lists of questions for families to ask potential schools in regards to college-prep, community immersion, international travel, home visits, as well as numerous additional areas that need exploration while considering therapeutic or traditional boarding schools.
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
